Changes across levels are all happening at the same time
Ecosystem structure: abundance & distribution of species & resources
Large-scale earth system impacts
Large-scale earth system impacts
Changes across levels are all happening at the same time
Ecosystem structure: abundance & distribution of species & resources
Ecosystem function: physical, chemical, & biological processes
Ecosystem services: processes & products that benefit humans
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops= where response increases stimulus
Common and lead to amplification of climate change and biodiversity loss
Effects can be on structure and/or function
Despite the name, this is NOT a good thing
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops= where response increases stimulus
Common and lead to amplification of climate change and biodiversity loss
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops= where response increases stimulus
Common and lead to amplification of climate change and biodiversity loss
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops:
Abiotic and biotic feedbacks from deforestation
Deforestation releases carbon sequestered in trees contributing to global warming. In turn…
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops: Abiotic and biotic feedbacks from deforestation
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops: Abiotic and biotic feedbacks from deforestation
Habitat loss has direct negative effects like removing organisms but also has cascading effects by facilitating invasions, allowing increased access to hunters, changing fire regimes, etc…
…particularly true when habitat loss and fragmentation are combined
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Positive feedback loops: Abiotic and biotic feedbacks from deforestation
Feedbacks: when a process/system is modified by its own effects
Negative feedback loops: why we don’t talk about them much from a GCB perspective
Threshold effects
Positive feedbacks and cascading effects can lead to tipping points and ecosystem collapse
Which can be reversible, partially reversible, or irreversible
Threshold effects
Threshold effects can occur at many levels from…
Threshold effects
Restoration always involves addressing the prior threats
Resilience and restoration
Many factors contribute to resilience and potential for restoration (use Taking a Closer Look as a study guide)
Resilience and restoration
Different elements of vulnerability: The degree to which a species or system is susceptible to adverse effects of global change is a function of:
-
Exposure: Likelihood system will experience a given stressor
- How big & quickly is the change occurring?
- Are there lag effects?
- Is the system exposed or buffered?
-
Sensitivity: Degree the system will be impacted by a given stressor
- Is the system fragile or robust?
- Are there highly specialized species or obligate interactions?
-
Response: Ability of a system to respond to a given stressor
- Which core responses do species exhibit?
- Can communities reorganize into a new stable state?
Connecting the dots: true interconnectedness
-
Our
systems are out of balance
- Earth systems
- Our own body systems
- Many of our socio-political-cultural systems
Premise that all systems are out of balance in shared ways
We extract and deplete without giving time and energy to the process of recharge and restoration
Connecting the dots: college classrooms
-
Higher education has long prioritized:
- Content over context
- Facts over wisdom
- Competition over cooperation
- Grades over reflection
The consequence is that the system runs on fear, lack, and depletion and can suck you dry
- This class design fights this style, but it is not enough…
- you are still pressured, stressed and running on empty
Earth’s systems are nested…and vulnerable
Ecological and evolutionary interconnectedness across all nested levels from cellular to planetary
Coordinated networked interdependent systems
Resulting from deep symbiosis + co-evolution
Open disccussion: Is there a solution for our disconnectedness?
What would an alternate model be for resilience and restoration?
How could we create a new system (on both visionary and practical levels) that prioritizes the values and approaches that we will need to create a more life-sustaining society?
How could models like these inform our work in other contexts?
Find an article or come up with a solution, post to Brightspace
